Women's hospital gets top rating

It was one of only two hospitals in the North West to get the top rating

Liverpool Women's Hospital has been rated excellent in its annual check-up by the Health Care Commission.

The independent watchdog looked at and rated the quality of services and the use of resources in all hospitals across the country.

It was the only hospital in Merseyside to be given the top award.

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital Trust, Wirral Hospitals Trust and the Cardiothoracic Centre were also rated good in the survey.

Wirral's trust, which runs Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals has shown an improvement going from a fair rating last time out to good this year.

The North West ambulance service and the Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trusts' performance were both graded as fair.

Ratings range from excellent to weak.

'Staff commitment'

The Health Secretary Alan Johnson called the survey "The toughest and most comprehensive assessment of the NHS ever."

He said that the service showed a clear improvement with more trusts getting the top rating and improving on last year's performance.

Len Richards, Chief Executive of Wirral Hospital's Trust, said he was delighted with their improvement.

"The past 12 months has been an exceptionally busy time for us with more patients than ever being treated at our hospitals, and the commitment of staff is clearly demonstrated by our improved quality of services rating.

"However, no one at the trust is complacent about our achievements and all staff and keen to continue this good work."